Ivan's rolling stock

see oldest post for pricing. some have boxes. The SEABOARD SYSTEM is a Lionel. I think one of the tenders belongs with the MIKADO.

Ivans trains (maybe)

now the trains? Mill is hand made. Train shed is about 8 feet long, top is hinged, 3 tracks wide inside.

Ivan trains for sale

more trains/buildings for sale. Some homemade wood, some plastic, some ceramic

more Ivan stuff

see other post for info on prices

Ivan Smith Trains For Sale

Gerry Smith is selling Ivan's trains, buildings, track and bridges. I will attempt to post pictures of all the stuff. Contact me at BL2GSCALE@GMAIL.COM with any questions. We have not disassembled the layout yet, but there is over 700 feet of brass track with many wide radius remote LGB turnouts. She will accept $40 for each turnout, $40 for rolling stock (metal wheels and Aristo couplers), $150 for the engines ($300 for the Mikado), $25 per building, $35 for the wood bridges ($100 for the metal bridge). Individual track pieces at $4 per foot with reduced price for larger quantity. There are 20 dwarf alberta spruces (that's a 11" binder next to the plant)

Remembering John Jackson

      No one I know has a smile as broad as John Jackson's smile.  Had he been with us today (and perhaps he was), that ready smile would have been broader still, as an overflowing crowd of friends and family joined in Yarmouth to celebrate his life.  Many members of the MGRS came to share in remembering John with Gigi and her family.  John's son, Johnnie, spoke for all of us when he recalled John's warmth, his humor, and his capacity for hard work.  John was a lifelong patriot who once served in the Signal Corps.  In a moving ceremony, an Army honor guard presented an American flag to Gigi in his honor.

     Those of us in the MGRS who knew John might say we knew him in his later years.  But even if John had lived into his Nineties, I doubt if he ever would have had "later years."  John was always young, always as curious and inventive as a child, and always filled with wonder.  This winter, when we visit or operate the Holiday Mall display, we'll be seeing John's ideas and inspirations.  More than this, in the sounds of the trains, the smell of the smoke and ozone, and the bright eyes of children who gather around to watch, we can remember the joyous man who made it possible, a lucky man who greeted each day of his life as if it were Christmas morning.

Celebration of Life

John Jackson's family has invited members of the Maine Garden Railway Society to a celebration of John's life, to be held at the Lindquist Funeral Home, One Mayberry Lane, Yarmouth on Friday, August 8, from 2-4 p.m.  Please join in sharing our fond remembrances of John.

Sad News

I am sad to tell the members of the Maine Garden Railway Society that John Jackson died this morning.  This news is sad indeed, because John was a true friend to all of us who knew him.  He was a man of honor and integrity, the very definition of a mensch.   His loss for the Society is sad because it was John whose inspiration and steadfast commitment lay behind our successful Christmas displays at the Mall; it was John who designed and maintained our blog, which links many of us together; and it was John who was always ready to lend a hand as a volunteer, and to give encouragement, and to share the warmth of his bright smile.  This news is sad, but it is not tragic.  Gigi Jackson says that John spent the past two weeks at home with his family, with his trains, and with the serenity that comes with having made his peace with his Maker.  He died exactly as he had hoped he might, happy in a life well spent.

We will miss him.

Gorham House Visit Cancelled

Gorham House called today to say they need to reschedule the visit to the Overlook Railroad that had been planned for tomorrow, July 24.  We will let you know when the visit is rescheduled.

G Guage Layout for Sale - Please help Gerry Smith if you can.

This is a difficult post because we all loved Ivan and Gerry.  Gerry called Carl and said she has decided to sell Ivan's train collection.  He has an outstanding layout with over 800 feet of track and switches, bridges, excellent buildings, people, engines, rolling stock and transformers.  I hope anyone that deals with her will be very fair and reasonable as she is a very kind and trusting lady.  If you wish to contact her please call Carl and he will give you her phone number.

Click here to go to an old post from one of their Open Houses.  There is a very short video of his layout but you can see a powerful FA-FB consist with nice sound and another train.  Click here:   http://mgrsmembers.blogspot.com/2010/07/great-open-house.html

His layout was featured in the Iron Horse.  To see the issue please:  Click here:

Thank you, John

Now that was very nice

Carl was delighted today when he opened a letter from Dave Chnupa and saw a check for annual dues.  Not because of the money but because of the love, respect, and friendship renewing represented.  The letter came all the way from Illinois and that is not exactly drop by for a quick visit distance.  Except that is. . . for one special night of the year.  Thank you Santa, we absolutely love you and appreciate the fact that you want to remain a member.  Blessings to you also from us.  

'Big Blue' Signup button is back

Yesterday Norm called and said he wanted to reserve Thursdays for the "Circus Guys".   Just like old times!  In prior years I had brought a sign up sheet to the Annual Meeting.  He was usually the very first to sign up. This year I missed the meeting but I had the electronic version ready to go and thanked Norm for being first again!  I said I would put it back up on the top of the Blog, right under our Logo.

You can click on the "Blue Button" anytime to see the calendar and what slots are open or see who is planning to come in.   Then if you wish to reserve a spot for yourself,  just fill in the simple form and click on submit.  It's never to early to sign up.

Congratulation to the 2014 - 2015 Board of Directors

 Elected at the Annual Meeting yesterday is the new Board of Directors for the Maine Garden Railway Society.    Pictured below from left to right is Carl Churchill (President),  Arthur Handman (Vice President), Terry Norton (Secretary), Dennis Farrell (Treasure).  On the following line are the Directors at large from left to right:  Mac Mclaughlin,  Denneth Lee,  Ernie Packard,  Hunk Erskine and Phil Sypek.

Congratulations gentlemen, we wish you all great success as you lead the organization in the year ahead.

Thank you to Dick, Paul and Walter

  Let me join the membership and Carl at the annual meeting yesterday when he thanked retiring Board of Directors Dick Cosgrove (Vice President) and directors Paul Corbett and Walter Fossett Jr. for their outstanding service and dedication.   We hope they will continue to serve as the opportunity arises in the future.  They are all real gentleman and have always brought credit to our organization.  Thank you all very much.

Fundraiser planned for MGRS at the Maine Mall

At the Annual Meeting yesterday Carl Churchill announced the details of a planned fundraiser to benefit MGRS during this years train display at the Maine Mall.   This year we will be setting up our holiday layout right in front of the entrance to the BON*TON store.  In recognition of our display they have offered to sell railroad engineer caps and to donate all of the profit from the sale to Maine Garden Railway Society.   We could receive as much as a $2,500 dollar donation from BON*TON if all the caps are sold.  Wow, that is fantastic news!

 Our thanks to BON*TON and the Maine Mall for this  idea !